DE102021129075A1 - Apparatus and method for turning and aligning documents - Google Patents

Abstract

A document inverting/aligning apparatus includes first and second inverting/aligning stations; the two turning/aligning stations being arranged along a conveyor, the conveyor being arranged to feed the document to the two turning/aligning stations sequentially; and wherein the two turning/aligning stations are arranged to rotate the document (i) about its yaw axis in the first or the second of the turning/aligning stations and/or in the second or the first of the turning/aligning stations around its roll axis; or (ii) in the first or the second of the turning/aligning stations about its roll axis and/or in the second or the first of the turning/aligning stations about its pitch axis; or (iii) turning about its pitch axis in the first or the second of the turning/pointing stations and/or about its yaw axis in the second or the first of the turning/pointing stations.

Description

background

Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for flipping and aligning documents about up to two axes. Details of this are defined in the claims; but the description also contains relevant information on the structure and the mode of operation as well as on variants of the method and the device components.

A document to be turned and aligned using the device or the method has a front and a back cover, a head and a foot, and a spine and a front. In particular, the turning and aligning (of a large number) of documents is understood here to mean that documents which are initially present in any orientation are brought into a uniform orientation by turning and aligning, for example for subsequent further processing. This uniform orientation can be, for example, that of a document lying on one level, the front cover is visible to a viewer, the head is turned away from the viewer and the spine is up. When leaving the device / at the end of the process, the head of the document is ahead in a conveying direction or rushes ahead.

Documents of the type addressed here are, in particular, security or identification documents such as passports, identity cards, driver's licenses, identification cards, credit cards, bank cards, cash payment cards, labels, access cards and the like. Aspects of the device and the method are defined both in the description and in the figures and the claims.

The documents of the type presented here that are used as security or identification documents are generally produced centrally except for their personalization data and then provided with personalization in a decentralized manner, for example at registration offices, at authorities or at companies authorized to issue such documents. The documents are usually present either as an unordered stack or as a stack in which some documents lying on top of one another are oriented in the same way and the following documents are oriented differently. It is also possible that a stack of, for example, 25 documents includes several, for example five, packages each containing five documents. In this case, the documents of successive packets are stacked with the front edge oriented in the opposite direction. For processing, e.g. personalization, the documents must be oriented uniformly and aligned precisely so that the respective owner of the security or identification document can receive personalization data in the form of text, numbers and/or image data (e.g. name, address of the owner, Date of birth, place of birth, photo of the holder, biometric data of the holder, etc.), date of issue and period of validity of the document can be incorporated into the security or identification document with high positional accuracy. A particularly high positional accuracy is also relevant for some of the security features.

State of the art

The DE19606887A1 relates to a turning device with a receiving compartment which is arranged to be rotatable about an axis of rotation and into which a product to be turned is introduced. The axis of inertia of the receiving compartment and the axis of inertia of the goods are essentially the same when turning. A device for introducing the goods into the receiving compartment brings this good in the direction of the axis of rotation. A device for removing the item from the receiving compartment removes this item in the direction of the axis of rotation. This turning device has a holding device that holds the material during turning. A drive device is connected to the storage compartment and causes the storage compartment to rotate about its axis of rotation. The receiving compartment is arranged in a drum-shaped element in such a way that the axis of rotation of the receiving compartment coincides with an axis of rotation of the drum-shaped element. The receiving compartment protrudes beyond the end faces of the drum-shaped element in the direction of the axis of rotation. The holding device is arranged inside the drum-shaped element. The drive device is connected to the drum-shaped element via a belt. The introduction device is arranged at an adjustable distance in a transport direction of the goods in front of the receiving compartment and the device for removing the goods is arranged at a fixed distance in the transport direction of the goods behind the receiving compartment. The receiving compartment has a first compartment, which is aligned with the loading device, into which the material to be turned is introduced, and a second compartment, which is aligned with the device for removing the material, from which the turned material is removed. When the turning device is operated during a turning operation, the first compartment becomes the second compartment and the second compartment becomes the first compartment. The retaining means has a biased retaining plate which engages the crop to be turned and means which disengages the retaining plate from engagement with the crop during loading and unloading of the crop into and from the receiving compartment. The holding device has a prestressed roller which is parallel to the transport direction of the goods is arranged and engages with the material to be turned. The holding device has two holding elements which engage the item to be turned that is arranged in the receiving compartment. A control device causes the turning device to operate in a through mode in which the item placed in the receiving compartment is not turned, or in a turning mode in which the item placed in the receiving compartment is turned. The good is paper, individual sheets, loose packets and filled or unfilled envelopes. This turning device is part of a paper handling system, which is mainly used in large companies, banks, insurance companies, service companies. In these companies, the paper handling systems are used to process large quantities of paper, such as invoices, reminders, bank statements, etc.

From the EP 2 804 760 A1 a card reorientation mechanism of a card processing machine is known. This includes a means for transporting a card without contacting a main surface of the card and a means for re-orienting the card without contacting a main surface of the card. The means for reorienting the map has a first electric motor, a platform, a first drive train between the first electric motor and the platform. The first electric motor is able to rotate the platform. The means for transporting has a second electric motor, a transport mechanism, and a second drive train between the second electric motor and the transport mechanism. The transport mechanism is operated by the second electric motor. The transport mechanism is associated with the card reorientation mechanism and is rotatable with the platform. The transport mechanism is arranged on one or both sides of the card and is set up to contact a side surface of the card. For this, the transport mechanism has one or more rotatable rollers, in particular a drive roller, idler rollers and a belt which encloses the drive roller and the idler rollers. The card re-orientation mechanism is a pressure mechanism; and an image capture device or laser personalization mechanism located adjacent the card re-orienting mechanism for capturing an image of the major surface while the card is in the card re-orienting mechanism or laser personalization to be performed on the main surface of the card while the card is on the card re-orientation mechanism. The main surface of the plastic card is reoriented at an angle of more than 0° and less than 90° relative to an optical axis of the image recording device.

The EP 2 332 864 A1 relates to a device for turning book blocks that are transported lying flat with a conveyor device, with a clamping/rotating unit that can be moved back and forth between conveyor belts of the conveyor device and grips a book block in the center for selective rotation about a vertical axis. This clamp-rotary unit has a lower, vertically movable turntable that lifts the book block from the conveyor, and an upper rotary-pressure stamp that can be adjusted to the thickness of the book block. The rotary movement of the turntable and/or the rotary pressure plunger is effected by a stationary drive connected to a wheel of the rotary clamp unit via a transmission means that can be moved in the direction of the forward and backward movement of the rotary clamp unit. The rotational movement on the turntable and/or rotary pressure plunger that is forcibly generated by the forward and backward movement of the clamping/rotating unit can be compensated for by a complementary movement generated by the drive. The stationarily arranged drive is a servo motor, which is controllably connected via a control device to the drive for the forward and backward movement of the clamping/rotating unit. The drive is a servo motor with position control. The position of the turntable and/or the rotary pressure stamp is regulated directly according to the respective rotary function at 0°, +/- 90°, 180°. The transmission means is an endlessly circulating toothed belt or the like, with at least the strand of the toothed belt acting on the wheel running in the direction of the forward and backward movement of the clamping/rotating unit. The turntable and the rotary plunger are driven synchronously via a drive connection. The clamping/rotating unit is driven synchronously with the conveyor device, at least when the book block is being accepted and/or delivered.

The DE 102 19 569 A1 relates to a rotating device for cards, in particular ID cards for ID card processing systems, with a position change from a transverse position to a longitudinal position. The rotating device has a border on both sides of the card from the inlet to the outlet, and straight-line transport means for transporting the card in the inlet and outlet of the rotating device. An obstacle designed on one side of the transport path to initiate a rotational movement around the obstacle and a guideway with rotating balls adapted to the rotational movement of the card serves to transport the card around the obstacle. The guide of the card is formed on the one hand of a straight line with an offset at the obstacle by the width of the obstacle and on the other hand of a guide corresponding to the outer radius of the card rotating around the obstacle. The balls of are in a wheel with tooth gaps adapted to the spherical shape on an orbit below the map guided. The one-sided obstacle on the transport route is at the same time the drive shaft of the wheel for driving the balls. The balls have a material with a suitable coefficient of friction between the ball and the card material, so that the card resting on it due to its own weight is carried along by the rotating or moving ball. A motor is used to drive the movement means for transporting the card. At the point at which the card enters the turning device, there is/are one or more sensors for detecting the card and for triggering the transport drive and at the same time for detecting the position of the card and preventing transport if the card is in the wrong position.

The EP 3 147 243 A1 concerns a card rotator. This has a card tray that rotates about a pivot axis that is approximately perpendicular to a plane of a card substrate carried by the card tray, a feed roller that ejects a card substrate from the card tray and that has an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the pivot axis, and a motor causing the card receptacle to rotate about the pivot axis relative to the axis of rotation of the feed roller. The feed roller is located within a projection of the card holder along the axis of rotation, is arranged above or below the card holder, engages with a card substrate mounted in the card holder during rotation of the card holder and the card substrate about the axis of rotation, has a peripheral portion which is provided with a comes into contact with the substrate carried by the card holder, and which has a conical cross section, is displaced by a card substrate held in the card holder during rotation of the card holder and the card substrate about the axis of rotation, and releases a card substrate from the card holder along a processing axis off. The axis of rotation of the feed roller is orthogonal to the pivot axis and the processing axis and extends through a card substrate mounted in the card receptacle. The machining axis is parallel to the plane of a card substrate carried by the card receptacle. The card receptacle has a first stop and a second stop orthogonal to the first stop. The first stop defines a first edge of a card substrate carried by the card receptacle and the second stop defines a second edge of the card substrate carried by the card receptacle. The first and second stops form an L-shaped receptacle. The feed roller drives a card substrate received through the first opening against the first stopper and a card substrate received through the second opening against the second stopper. A retaining wall engages the card substrate carried by the card receptacle during rotation of the card receptacle about the pivot axis relative to the feed roller and retaining wall. The first and second edges of the substrate converge at a first corner of the card substrate carried by the card receptacle. The containment wall engages a second corner of the card substrate carried by the card receptacle that is non-adjacent to the first corner during rotation of the card receptacle about the pivot axis relative to the feed roller and containment wall. The card rotator includes first and second openings located on opposite sides of the card receptacle along the processing axis. The feed roller is positioned between the first and second openings.

Another technological background is the U.S. 2010/0090395 A1 , the WO 2011/035114 A1 , the WO 2018007017 A1 as well as the U.S. 4,155,440 B1 refer to.

Technical problem

Based on this situation, an inexpensive and robust arrangement and procedure with a high processing speed is to be provided in order to be able to bring documents into a desired orientation while maintaining a high level of alignment accuracy.

Proposed solution

Devices and methods with the features or steps of the independent claims are proposed to solve this problem.

Such a document inverting/aligning apparatus comprises a first - upstream - and a second - downstream - inverting/aligning station; the two turning/aligning stations being arranged along a conveyor, the conveyor being arranged to feed the document to the two turning/aligning stations sequentially; and wherein the two inverting/aligning stations are arranged to rotate the document about its yaw axis in the first or the second of the inverting/aligning stations and/or about its yaw axis in the second or the first of the inverting/aligning stations roll axis; or in the first or the second of the turning/aligning stations about its roll axis and/or in the second or the first of the turning/aligning stations about its pitch axis; or about its pitch axis in the first or the second of the turn/alignment stations and/or about its yaw axis in the second or the first of the turn/alignment stations.

Such a document inverting/aligning method comprises the steps of: conveying a document first to a first and then to a second inverting/aligning station disposed along a conveyor; inverting the document about its yaw axis in the first or the second of the inverting/aligning stations and/or in the second or the first of the inverting/aligning stations about its roll axis; or flipping the document about its roll axis in the first or the second one of the flipping/aligning stations and/or about its pitch axis in the second or the first one of the flipping/aligning stations; or flipping the document about its pitch axis in the first or the second of the flip/align stations and/or about its yaw axis in the second or the first of the flip/align stations.

In particular, a device and a method for turning and aligning documents about up to two axes are presented here.

Documents of the type to be processed with the device/method have a cuboid shape, designed as a book or as a card.

For example, documents can be in credit card format (ID-1), which requires the card to be 85.60 millimeters long and 53.98 millimeters wide (3.370 by 2.125 inches). This format has been used for credit cards, phone cards, bank cards, cash cards for decades. Driving licenses and ID cards are also ID-1 size in many countries.

For example, documents can also be in the identity card format (ID-2), which requires the card to be 105 millimeters by 74 millimeters (4.125 by 2.875 inches). This corresponds to the DIN A7 format. Compared to ID-1, ID-2 offers a little more space that can be used for a larger passport photo or for additional security features.

Documents can, for example, also have the passport format (ID-3) with a size of 125 millimeters by 88 millimeters (4.875 by 3.5 inches), i.e. correspond to the DIN B7 format, which determines the size of passports worldwide.

But documents that are not subject to any or less standardization are also clearly included here, since the restrictions for the device resulting from the shape, size, or equipment of the documents are directly derived, so that the exact dimensions are in the definition of the device or the process or equipment of the document do not have to be included. A definition of an explicit combination of documents and device is also not required here.

The device and the method for turning and aligning documents about up to two axes are used to turn the documents from three different initial orientations by one of three possible turns (about the roll axis, the yaw axis or the pitch axis) or by any combination in the order of the other two possible tacks in the same final orientation or alignment. One of the three turning devices / one of the three turning processes can be substituted by the other two. The approach presented here allows for a device/procedure that can be easily and appropriately integrated into the upstream and downstream conditions of an overall solution. Variants are also disclosed below that allow both a straight and an angled conveying path.

The variants presented here are less expensive than the prior art and allow a comparatively higher throughput of documents.

Documents that are unsorted in terms of their orientation (e.g. passport books or cards) must all be aligned in the same way for further processing (e.g. their personalization). Depending on the original orientation, the document is rotated around up to two of its axes.

A document turning/aligning device of the type presented here comprises a first - upstream - and a second - downstream - turning/aligning station. The two turning/aligning stations are arranged along a conveyor, the conveyor being arranged to feed the document to the two turning/aligning stations one after the other. In one variant, the two turning/aligning stations are set up to turn the document about its yaw axis in the first or the second of the turning/aligning stations and/or in the second or the first of the turning/aligning stations to turn its roll axis. In a further variant, the two turning/aligning stations are set up to rotate the document about its rolling axis in the first or the second of the turning/aligning stations and/or in the second or the first of the turning/aligning stations to turn its pitch axis. In a third variant, the two turning/aligning stations are set up to rotate the document about its pitch axis in the first or the second of the turning/aligning stations and/or in the second or the first of the turning/aligning stations to turn its yaw axis.

In one variant, the turning/aligning stations are assigned corresponding optical or tactile sensors, which signal the current position/alignment of the respective document to a controller. Based on the current position/alignment of the respective document and the desired orientation/alignment of the respective document, this controller determines the required turning of the respective document and the resulting activations of the individual components/actuators/drives of the two turning/aligning stations . The order in which the two turning/aligning stations process the respective document is arbitrary. It is also possible that only one of the two turning/alignment stations processes the document and the document passes the other station without the latter changing the orientation/alignment of the document. Any desired orientation/alignment can be achieved with each of the combinations of turning/aligning stations mentioned.

In variants of the document turning/aligning device, one of the two turning/aligning stations is set up to lift the document off the conveyor, turn it about its yaw axis, and then place it back on the conveyor while the the other of the two turning/aligning stations is adapted to lift the document from the conveyor, turn it about its roll axis and then place it back on the conveyor. Alternatively, one of the two inverting/aligning stations is arranged to lift the document off the conveyor, turn it about its pitch axis and then place it back on the conveyor, while the other of the two inverting/aligning stations does the same arranged to lift the document off the conveyor, turn it about its roll axis, and then place it back on the conveyor. Alternatively, one of the two inverting/aligning stations is arranged to lift the document off the conveyor, turn it about its yaw axis, and then place it back on the conveyor while the other of the two inverting/aligning stations does the same arranged to lift the document off the conveyor, turn it about its pitch axis and then place it back on the conveyor. The order in which the two turning/aligning stations process the respective document is arbitrary. It is also possible that only one of the two turning/aligning stations processes the respective document. If the document alignment is already correct, neither of the two turning/alignment stations processes the respective document.

In variants of the document turning/aligning device, the conveying device comprises at least one conveyor belt which is one-part or multi-part, clocked or continuously driven in the conveying direction and/or transversely to the conveying direction and has a plurality of webs protruding from its surface and spaced apart in the conveying direction. Adjacent webs can be spaced far enough from one another that such a document can be accommodated or accommodated between two adjacent webs in the conveying direction along its roll axis or its pitch axis essentially or almost without play. The distance can be selected in such a way that the old German passport has hardly any play (a few mm) and the new German passport and most other ID-3-compliant passports worldwide have play (about 10 mm+). In variants of the document turning/aligning device, the conveying device comprises lateral guides on one or both sides of the conveyor belt, which are designed to rotate or slide the document around its yaw axis and/or along its pitch axis and/or its limit roll axis. Optionally, the lateral guides include, at least in sections, rigid guide surfaces or driven or non-driven roller conveyors with or without side conveyor belts.

In variants of the document turning/aligning device, the guides serve as a support for the document, against or on which the document rests or rests while it is held in position or carried along by the webs of the conveyor belt.

The guides can be interrupted at least on one side in the area of the document turning/aligning device in order to allow longitudinal/frontal access to the document so that it can be gripped and lifted out of the conveyor belt.

In variants, the conveyor belt is set up to limit/prevent rotary or sliding movements of the document about its pitch and/or roll axis and/or along its pitch and/or roll axis and/or along its yaw axis.

In variants of the document turning/aligning device, at least one of the turning/aligning stations comprises a first and a second clamping plate. At least one of the two clamps can be moved towards and away from the other of the two clamps in a controlled manner, controlled by a first drive. In variants, the drive is a hydraulic, pneumatic, (electric) motor, link-guided and/or a spring-loaded drive.

In variants, the two clamps are dimensioned and arranged to clamp such a document at its front cover and its back cover between the two clamps. In variants of the device, the clamps are designed in the form of plates or rollers in order to be able to grip, lift, turn and set down the document safely and without damaging it. The two clamps are controlled by a drive to be lifted off the conveyor along the yaw axis of the document located between the two clamps and set down on the conveyor. In variants, the drive is a hydraulic, pneumatic, (electric) motor, link-guided and/or a spring-loaded drive.

In variants of the document turning/aligning device, at least one of the two clamps is designed to be non-rotatable, rotatable or rotatable about the yaw axis of a document located between the two clamps and the other of the two clamps is designed to be driven about the yaw axis of the document located between the two document located at the two terminals designed to be rotatably drivable. In variants, the drive is a hydraulic, pneumatic, (electric) motor, link-guided and/or a spring-loaded drive.

Optionally, some or all of these drives can be formed by a single drive.

In variants of the document turning/aligning device, at least one of the two clamps is designed to be non-rotatable, rotatable or rotatable about the pitch axis of a document located between the two clamps. If one clamp is non-rotatable or rotatable, the other of the two clamps can be driven in rotation about the pitch axis of a document located between the two clamps.

In variants of the document turning/aligning device, the conveying device comprises at least one first conveyor belt which is oriented in a first conveying direction and has a plurality of webs which protrude from its surface and are spaced apart in the conveying direction. In some variants, adjacent webs are spaced so far apart that such a document can be accommodated essentially without play along its pitch axis between two adjacent webs in the first conveying direction. At least one conveyor belt, which is oriented at, for example, an approximately right angle to the first conveying direction, comprises a second conveyor belt oriented in a second conveying direction. This conveyor belt has a plurality of webs which protrude from its surface and are spaced apart in the conveying direction. Adjacent webs are spaced so far apart that such a document can be accommodated essentially without play along its rolling axis between two adjacent webs in the first conveying direction. In variants, the first conveyor belt has a first end and the second conveyor belt has a second beginning. The first end and the second beginning are aligned and spaced apart in such a way that a document that is on the first conveyor belt and is oriented with its pitch axis along the first conveying direction can be transferred to the second conveyor belt in such a way that the document is on the second conveyor belt is oriented with its rolling axis along the first conveying direction.

In a further embodiment of the document turning/aligning device, one of the two turning/aligning stations is arranged along the first conveyor belt and is set up to turn the document about its rolling axis; and along the second conveyor belt the other of the two turning/aligning stations arranged and arranged to turn the document about its pitch axis.

In a further embodiment of the document turning/aligning device, one of the two turning/aligning stations is arranged along the first conveyor belt and is set up to turn the document about its rolling axis; and along the second conveyor belt the other of the two turning/aligning stations is arranged and arranged to turn the document about its yaw axis.

In a further embodiment of the document turning/aligning device, the conveying device comprises at least one conveyor belt oriented in the conveying direction, which has a plurality of webs protruding from its surface and spaced apart in the conveying direction, with adjacent webs being spaced far enough from one another that between each Such a document can be accommodated essentially without play along its rolling axis on two webs that are adjacent in the conveying direction. A first of the two turning/aligning stations is arranged along the conveyor belt and is adapted to turn the document about its yaw axis. In addition, a second of the two turning/aligning stations is arranged along the conveyor belt and is set up to turn the document about its pitch axis.

• Fördern eines Dokuments zuerst zu einer ersten und anschließend zu einer zweiten Wende-/Ausricht-Station, die entlang einer Fördereinrichtung angeordnet sind;
• Wenden des Dokuments in der ersten oder der zweiten der Wende-/Ausricht-Stationen um seine Gierachse und/oder in der zweiten oder der ersten der Wende-/Ausricht-Stationen um seine Rollachse; oder
• Wenden des Dokuments in der ersten oder der zweiten der Wende-/Ausricht-Stationen um seine Rollachse und/oder in der zweiten oder der ersten der Wende-/Ausricht-Stationen um seine Nickachse; oder
• Wenden des Dokuments in der ersten oder der zweiten der Wende-/Ausricht-Stationen um seine Nickachse und/oder in der zweiten oder der ersten der Wende-/Ausricht-Stationen um seine Gierachse.

A document turning/aligning procedure includes the steps:

• conveying a document first to a first and then to a second turning/aligning station located along a conveyor;
• turning the document over in the first or second of the turning/aligning stations its yaw axis and/or about its roll axis in the second or the first of the turning/aligning stations; or
• flipping the document about its roll axis in the first or the second one of the flipping/aligning stations and/or about its pitch axis in the second or the first one of the flipping/aligning stations; or
• turning the document about its pitch axis in the first or the second of the turning/orienting stations and/or about its yaw axis in the second or the first of the turning/orienting stations.

Variants of the document turning/aligning method are designed in such a way that one of the two turning/aligning stations lifts the document off the conveyor, turns it around its yaw axis, and then places the document on the conveyor; and the other of the two turning/aligning stations lifts the document from the conveyor, turns it about its roll axis, and then deposits the document on the conveyor; or the one of the two turning/aligning stations lifts the document from the conveyor, turns it about its pitch axis, and then deposits the document on the conveyor; and the other of the two turning/aligning stations lifts the document from the conveyor, turns it about its roll axis, and then deposits the document on the conveyor; or the one of the two turning/aligning stations lifts the document from the conveyor, turns it about its yaw axis, and then deposits the document on the conveyor; and the other of the two turning/aligning stations lifts the document from the conveyor, turns it about its pitch axis, and then deposits the document onto the conveyor.

In some variants, the conveyor belt acts in one piece with its conveying webs, for example along the rolling or pitching axis of the document lying on the conveying device. In other variants, the conveyor belt acts in two parts or in one part with its conveying webs at a lateral distance along the rolling or pitching axis of the document lying on the conveying device. In a further variant, the conveyor belt is in two parts and its conveying webs act on both sides at a lateral distance along the roll or pitch axis of the document lying on the conveying device.

In a further variant, the conveyor belt acts in one piece with its conveying webs at a lateral distance along the central longitudinal axis on the outside of the document lying on the conveying device. In the case of a one-piece conveyor belt that acts asymmetrically to the central longitudinal axis of the passport, the lateral guides are of particular importance for transporting the passport in the correct position.

Further advantageous embodiments of the devices and the procedures result from the dependent claims.

Brief description of the figures

Further features, properties, advantages, expediencies of the devices and the procedures can be found in the following description in conjunction with the drawing. Possible modifications will also become clear to a person skilled in the art on the basis of the following description, in which reference is made to the attached drawings. The figures schematically show the devices discussed here.

• 1 in einer schematischen perspektivischen Darstellung ein Dokument das durch eine hier offenbarte Vorrichtung zu verarbeiten ist, zum Beispiel in Gestalt eines Passbuches;
• 1a, 1b in einer schematischen perspektivischen Darstellung ein Dokument aus 1, wie dieses aus einer ersten Ausgangs-Orientierung entweder mittels 180°-Gieren und 180°-Rollen, oder durch 180°-Nicken in eine End-Orientierung zu bringen ist;
• 2a, 2b in einer schematischen perspektivischen Darstellung ein Dokument aus 1, wie dieses aus einer zweiten Ausgangs-Orientierung entweder mittels 180°-Rollen und 180°-Nicken, oder durch 180°-Gieren in die End-Orientierung zu bringen ist;
• 3a, 3b in einer schematischen perspektivischen Darstellung ein Dokument aus 1, wie dieses aus einer dritten Ausgangs-Orientierung entweder mittels 180°-Gieren und 180°-Nicken, oder durch 180°-Rollen in die End-Orientierung zu bringen ist;
• 4a, 4b in einer schematischen Draufsicht bzw. Seitenansicht eine Vorrichtung mit einer ersten und einer zweiten Wende-/Ausricht-Station, die entlang Fördereinrichtung angeordnet sind, wobei in diesen beiden Darstellungen in der aufstromseitigen Wende-/Ausricht-Station das Dokument um 180° um seine Gierachse, und in der abstromseitigen Wende-/Ausricht-Station das Dokument um 180° um seine Nickachse gewendet wird;
• 5 in einer schematischen Draufsicht eine Vorrichtung mit einer dritten und der ersten Wende-/Ausricht-Station, die entlang Fördereinrichtung angeordnet sind, wobei in diesen beiden Darstellungen in der aufstromseitigen Wende-/Ausricht-Station das Dokument um 180° um seine Rollachse, und in der abstromseitigen Wende-/Ausricht-Station das Dokument um 180° um seine Gierachse gewendet wird; und
• 6 in einer schematischen Draufsicht eine Vorrichtung mit der dritten und der ersten Wende-/Ausricht-Station, die entlang Fördereinrichtung angeordnet sind, wobei in diesen beiden Darstellungen in der aufstromseitigen Wende-/Ausricht-Station das Dokument um 180° um seine Rollachse, und in der abstromseitigen Wende-/Ausricht-Station das Dokument um 180° um seine Nickachse gewendet wird.

Here show:

• 1 in a schematic perspective representation, a document to be processed by a device disclosed here, for example in the form of a passport;
• 1a , 1b a document in a schematic perspective representation 1 how to bring it from a first initial orientation to a final orientation either by means of 180° yaw and 180° roll, or by 180° pitch;
• 2a , 2 B a document in a schematic perspective representation 1 how to bring it from a second initial orientation to the final orientation either by means of a 180° roll and 180° pitch, or by a 180° yaw;
• 3a , 3b a document in a schematic perspective representation 1 how to bring it from a third starting orientation to the final orientation by either yaw and pitch 180°, or roll 180°;
• 4a , 4b in a schematic plan view and side view, respectively, a device with a first and a second turning/aligning station arranged along conveying means, wherein in these two representations in the upstream turning/aligning station the document rotates 180° about its yaw axis , and in the downstream inverting/orienting station the document is inverted 180° about its pitch axis;
• 5 in a schematic plan view a device with a third and the first Inverting/aligning stations positioned along conveyors, in these two illustrations in the upstream inverting/aligning station the document is rotated 180° about its roll axis, and in the downstream inverting/aligning station the document is rotated 180 ° is turned about its yaw axis; and
• 6 in a schematic plan view a device with the third and the first turning/aligning station, which are arranged along conveying means, wherein in these two representations in the upstream turning/aligning station the document rotates 180° around its roll axis, and in at the downstream inverting/orienting station, the document is inverted 180° about its pitch axis.

Detailed description of variants of the devices and the procedures

1 FIG. 12 schematically illustrates a document D to be processed with the device/method as described below. This document has an essentially cuboid shape, designed as a book or as a card. As a book, the document has a front and back cover, a foot and a header, and a front and spine. To describe the turning process of the document, a spatial Cartesian coordinate system is imprinted here. A (longitudinal) axis penetrates the foot and the head of the document approximately in the middle at a right angle and is referred to below as the roll axis z. A (transverse) axis penetrates the front and back of the document approximately centrally at right angles and is hereinafter referred to as the pitch axis. A (yaw) axis penetrates the front and back covers of the document approximately centrally at right angles and is hereinafter referred to as the yaw axis y

The 1a , 1b ; 2a , 2 B ; 3a , 3b abstractly illustrate the turning of the document D from three different initial orientations into a uniform final orientation.

Here is in the 1a shown how the document D with the orientation: back cover up, front cover down, front left, back right, head up, feet down, is turned 180° around its yaw axis y in the first turning/aligning station, so that results in an intermediate orientation: back cover up, front cover down, front right, back left, head down, feet up. In the second turning/aligning station, the document D is then turned around its roll axis z, resulting in the end orientation: front cover up, back cover down, front left, spine right, head down, foot up. As indicated by the double arrow on the side in the 1a illustrated, the two turning operations in the upstream and downstream turning/aligning station can also be performed in reverse order, ie the arrangement of the two turning/aligning stations along the conveyor can be reversed.

The 1b shows how document D with the orientation: back cover up, front cover down, front left, back right, head up, feet down is turned by 180° around its pitch axis x, so that the end orientation is immediately: front Blanket up, back blanket down, front left, back right, head down, feet up.

The 2a shows how document D with the orientation: front cover up, back cover down, front right, back left, head up, feet down, is first turned by 180° around its roll axis z, resulting in the intermediate orientation: back blanket up, front blanket down, front left, back right, head up, feet down. The document D is then turned by 180° around its pitch axis x, resulting in the end orientation: front cover at the top, rear cover at the bottom, front left, spine right, head down, feet up. As indicated by the double arrow on the side in the 2a illustrated, the two turning operations can also be carried out in reverse order, ie the arrangement of the two turning/aligning stations along the conveyor can be reversed.

The 2 B shows how the document D with the orientation: front cover up, back cover down, front right, back left, head up, feet down, the document D is turned by 180° around its yaw axis y, so that the end Orientation results in: front cover up, back cover down, front left, back right, head down, feet up.

The 3a shows how document D with the orientation: back cover up, front cover down, front right, back left, head down, feet up, is first turned by 180° around its yaw axis y, resulting in the intermediate orientation: back blanket up, front blanket down, front left, back right, head up, feet down. The document D is then turned by 180° around its pitch axis x, resulting in the end orientation: front cover at the top, rear cover at the bottom, front left, spine right, head down, feet up. As indicated by the double arrow on the side in the 3a shown, the two turning operations can also be carried out in reverse order, i.e. the arrangement of the two turning/aligning stations along the conveyor can be interchanged.

The 3b shows how document D with the orientation: back cover up, front cover down, front right, back left, head down, feet up, is turned by 180° around its roll axis z, so that the end orientation is immediately: front blanket up, back blanket down, front left, back right, head down, feet up.

A first turning/aligning station 100 serves to turn the document D about its yaw axis y.

A second turning/aligning station 200 serves to turn the document about its pitch axis x.

A third turning/aligning station 300 is used to turn the document about its roll axis z.

The 4a and 4b show a first variant of the document turning/aligning device 10, which has a first and a second turning/aligning station 100; 200 includes. These two turning / alignment stations 100; 200 are arranged along a conveyor 20 . The conveying device 20 serves to convey the document D to the two turning/aligning stations 100; 200 to be fed in succession. In the design of 4a , 4b is used in the conveying direction F upstream, front of the two turning / aligning stations 100; 200 to turn the document D about its yaw axis y and in the conveying direction F downstream, rear of the two turning/aligning stations 100; 200 to turn the document D about its pitch axis x. This corresponds to the process from the 3a . In the illustrated scenarios of 3a and 4a the start and end orientations of the documents do not match.

More precisely, the first of the two turning/aligning stations 100 serves to grasp the document D and lift it off the conveyor 20 along its yaw axis y, then to turn the document D through 180° about its yaw axis y, and finally the document D set down again on the conveyor 20 in a reversed orientation. The conveyor 20 transports the deposited document D to the second of the two turning/aligning stations 200. The second of the two turning/aligning stations 200 is used to grip the document D and lift it off the conveyor 20 along its yaw axis y, then turning the document D by 180° about its pitch axis x, and finally placing the document D back on the conveying device 20 in the turned orientation.

The 5 shows a second variant of the document turning/aligning device 10, which has the first and a third turning/aligning station 100; 300 includes. These two turning/aligning stations 300; 100 are arranged along a conveyor device divided into two sections 20a, 20b. The two sections 20a, 20b of the conveying device 20 serve to convey the document D to the two turning/aligning stations 100; 300 to be fed in succession. In the design of 5 the front of the two turning/aligning stations 300 on the upstream side in the conveying direction F serves to turn the document D around its rolling axis z and the rear one of the two turning/aligning stations 100 on the downstream side in the conveying direction F serves to turn the document D to turn its yaw axis y. This corresponds to the sequence from the - reversed in the order 1a .

More specifically, the third inverting/aligning station 300 serves to grasp and lift document D from conveyor 20 along its yaw axis y, then invert document D by 180° about its roll axis z, and finally invert document D Alignment to settle back on the conveyor 20. The conveyor is divided into a first section 20a and a second section 20b. The first section 20a comprises a first conveyor belt 22a which is oriented in a first conveying direction F1 and has a plurality of webs 24 which protrude from its surface and are spaced apart in the first conveying direction F1. Adjacent webs 24 are spaced so far apart that a document D can be accommodated without play along its pitch axis x between two adjacent webs 24 in the first conveying direction F1. The second section 20b comprises a second conveyor belt 22b oriented at right angles to the first conveying direction F1 and in a second conveying direction F2, which has a plurality of webs 24 protruding from its surface and spaced apart in the second conveying direction F2. In this case, adjacent webs 24 are spaced far enough from one another that the document D can be accommodated without play along its rolling axis z between two adjacent webs 24 in the second conveying direction F2.

The first conveyor belt 22a of the first section 20a has a first end and the second conveyor belt of the second section 20b has a second beginning. The first end and the second beginning are aligned and spaced apart in such a way that a document D, which is on the first conveyor belt 22a and is oriented with its pitch axis x along the first conveying direction F1, at a transfer point 28 onto the second conveyor belt 22b is to be handed over in such a way that the document D is on the second conveyor belt 22b is oriented with its rolling axis z along the second conveying direction F2. For this purpose, the first conveyor belt 22a and the second conveyor belt 22b must be synchronized with one another in a clocked movement such that adjacent webs 24 of the second conveyor belt 22a remain in the first conveying direction F1 exactly at the point at which the first conveyor belt 22a conveys the document D. The duration of the pause is to be determined until the document D is inserted between the two adjacent webs 24 of the second conveyor belt 22b.

The document D lies on the first section 20a of the conveyor device 20 with its pitch axis x along the first conveying direction F1 on the first conveyor belt 22a. The conveyor transports the deposited document to the first of the two turning/aligning stations. The first turning/aligning station serves to grip the document D and lift it off the first transport belt 22a of the conveyor 20 along its yaw axis y, then to turn the document D by 180° about its roll axis z, and finally to turn the document D set down again on the first conveyor belt 22a of the conveyor 20 in a reversed orientation. The conveying device transports the deposited document D further to the transfer point 28 and then to the second of the two turning/aligning stations. The second of the two turning/aligning stations is used to grip the document D and lift it off the conveyor 20 along its yaw axis y, then to turn the document D 180° about its yaw axis y, and finally to turn the document D in turned Alignment to settle back on the conveyor 20.

The 6 shows a third variant of the document turning/aligning device 10, which has the third and the second turning/aligning station 300; 200 includes. These two turning/aligning stations 300; 200 are arranged along a conveyor divided into two sections 20a, 20b. The two sections 20a, 20b of the conveying device 20 serve to convey the document D to the two turning/aligning stations 300; 200 to be fed in succession. In the design of 6 the upstream, front of the two turning/aligning stations 300 in the conveying direction F1 serves to turn the document D about its rolling axis z and the downstream, in the conveying direction F, rear of the two turning/aligning stations 200 serves to turn the document D to turn its pitch axis x.

More specifically, the third inverting/aligning station 300 serves to grasp and lift document D from conveyor 20 along its yaw axis y, then invert document D by 180° about its roll axis z, and finally invert document D Alignment to settle back on the conveyor 20. The conveyor device 20 is divided into a first section 20a and a second section 20b. The first section 20a comprises a first conveyor belt 22a which is oriented in a first conveying direction F1 and has a plurality of webs 24 which protrude from its surface and are spaced apart in the first conveying direction F1. Adjacent webs 24 are spaced so far apart that a document D can be accommodated without play along its pitch axis x between two adjacent webs 24 in the first conveying direction F1. The second section 20b comprises a second conveyor belt 22b oriented at right angles to the first conveying direction F1 and in a second conveying direction F2, which has a plurality of webs 24 protruding from its surface and spaced apart in the second conveying direction F2. In this case, adjacent webs 24 are spaced far enough from one another that the document D can be accommodated without play along its rolling axis z between two adjacent webs 24 in the second conveying direction F2.

The first conveyor belt 22a of the first section 20a has a first end and the second conveyor belt of the second section 20b has a second beginning. The first end and the second beginning are aligned and spaced apart in such a way that a document D, which is on the first conveyor belt 22a and is oriented with its pitch axis x along the first conveying direction F1, at a transfer point 28 onto the second conveyor belt 22b is to be transferred in such a way that the document D is oriented on the second conveyor belt 22b with its rolling axis z along the second conveying direction F2. For this purpose, the clocked movement of the first conveyor belt 22a and the second conveyor belt 22b must be synchronized with one another in such a way that adjacent webs 24 of the second conveyor belt 22b remain in the first conveying direction F1 exactly at the point at which the first conveyor belt 22a conveys the document D. The duration of the pause is to be determined such that the document D is inserted between the two adjacent webs 24 of the second conveyor belt 22b.

On the first section 20a of the two sections 20a, 20b of the conveyor device 20, the document D lies with its pitch axis x along the conveying direction F1 on the first conveyor belt 22a. The conveyor 20 transports the deposited document D to the transfer point 28 in the direction of the downstream of the two turning/aligning stations 100; 200. The upstream turning/aligning station 300 serves to grasp the document D and off the first transport belt 22a of the conveyor 20 along it lift yaw axis y, then turn the document D by 180° about its roll axis z, and finally set the document D down again on the first conveyor belt 22a of the conveying device 20 in a reversed orientation. The conveyor 20 transports the deposited document D to the downstream of the two turning/aligning stations. The downstream inverting/orienting station serves to grasp and lift document D off conveyor 20 along its yaw axis y, then invert document D 180° about its pitch axis y, and finally return document D in inverted orientation set down on the conveyor 20.

In all three device variants of the 4a , 4b ; 5 ; 6 depending on the starting orientation and the desired end orientation of the document D, either (i) both turning/aligning stations or (ii) only one of the two turning/aligning stations or (iii) none of the two turning/aligning stations /alignment stations the document D about its respective axis. In order to determine this, corresponding alignment/shape/surface sensors are arranged upstream of the two turning/aligning stations, for example imaging sensors or edge detectors, which signal their sensor data to a control ECU, which in turn controls the turning/alignment Alignment stations and the first and second conveyor belts 22a, 22b of the conveyor 20 activated accordingly.

In some or all three device variants of the 4a , 4b ; 5 ; 6 it is provided that the first and possibly second conveyor belts 22a, 22b are designed in one or more parts in their conveying direction and/or transversely to their conveying direction. The conveyor belts are formed from continuous belt material or from links connected to one another and are driven in a clocked or continuous manner with motor-driven rollers 22c, 22d. As described above, each of the conveyor belts has a plurality of webs 24 protruding from its surface and spaced apart in the conveying direction.

In some or all three device variants of the 4a , 4b ; 5 ; 6 it is provided that the conveyor device 20 has lateral guides 22a'', 22b' on one or both sides of the respective conveyor belt 22a, 22b. These lateral guides serve to limit rotational or sliding movements of the document D about its yaw axis y and/or along its pitch axis x. In the variant shown, the lateral guides 22a", 22b' have rigid guide surfaces, at least in sections. In other, not further illustrated configurations, the lateral guides have driven or non-driven roller conveyors with or without side conveyor belts. In some or all three device variants of the 4a , 4b ; 5 ; 6 Is/are the conveyor belt(s) 22a, 22b set up to rotate or slide movements of the document D around and/or or to limit or prevent along its roll axis z and/or along its yaw axis y. Movements about or along the roll axis for conveyor belt 22a correspond to movements about or along the pitch axis for conveyor belt 22b. The lateral guides 22a", 22b' serve as a support for the document D, on which the document D rests or rests and is held in position or carried along by the webs 24 of the conveyor belt.

The lateral guides are interrupted in the area of the document turning/aligning device 10 in order to permit lengthwise/endwise access to the document D. In this way, it can be gripped for turning and lifted out of the transport level.

The turning/aligning stations 100; 200; 300 each have a first and a second clamp 102, 104; 202, 204. As in 4b , 5 , 6 visible, one of the two clamps is shown - e.g. in 4b the lower one - controlled by a first pneumatic drive 110, 210, 310, movable towards and away from the other of the two clamps in a controlled manner. The clamps have rubber knobs on the side facing the document. In variants it is provided, for example, to equip the clamps with rubber knobs only in the turning/alignment station around the yaw axis, and for example to equip the turning/alignment stations around the pitch and roll axis with spring-loaded rollers in the clamping plates. In the three different turning/aligning stations 100; 200; 300 have the respective two terminals 102, 104; 202, 204; different shape and size. They are sized and designed to sandwich a document D at its front cover and its back cover. In the turning/aligning station 100, the clamps are circular and plate-shaped. In the turning/aligning stations 200 and 300, the clamps are rectangular shaped to fit the transverse/longitudinal dimensions of the document D. In variants it is provided that in the turning/aligning station around the yaw axis the clamps should be rectangular in shape, protruding in the longitudinal direction over the document and in the transverse direction approximately half as narrow as the document.

In the turning / alignment station 100, a second hydraulic drive 120 is provided serves to lift the document D--in each case together with the first pneumatic drive 110--between the two clamps 102, 104 from the conveying device 20 along the yaw axis y of the document D and set it down thereon. In the variant of the first turning/aligning station 100, the two hydraulic drives are actuated simultaneously and in the same direction--up or down--the document D being clamped between the clamps. In an alternative embodiment, only the lower clamp is actively moved. The upper clamp is lifted by the lower clamp and pressed against a stop, pinching the document in the middle. The provision is - gravity-assisted - effected by a return spring.

In the turning/aligning station 100, the lower of the two clamps 104 is coupled to the drive 110 so as to be loosely rotatable about the yaw axis y of the document (D) located between the two clamps. The upper of the two clamps 102 is rotated by the second hydraulic drive 120 about the yaw axis y of the document D by 180° when the document is lifted off the conveyor device 20 in the Y direction. A hydraulic drive 125, which carries the drive 120, is used to lift the rotary drive 120 together with the clamps in the Y direction from the conveyor device 20. In an alternative embodiment, the second hydraulic drive 120 is stationary and the stroke of the clamp is compensated for in the connection between the drive 120 and the clamp.

The lower drive 110 is driven synchronously in the Y-direction in order to take the document D and the lower clamp in the Y-direction and in the direction of rotation.

In a variant of the turning/aligning station 100 that is not illustrated further, the first and the third drive 110, 125 are formed by a single drive.

In the variant of the second turning/aligning station 200, a drive 210 between the two clamps serves to open and close the two clamps in a controlled manner. A further linear hydraulic drive 220 carries the first drive 210 with the two clamps and serves to lift the clamps from the conveyor device 20 along the yaw axis y of the document D and to set them down thereon. A rotary actuator 215 is disposed between the linear actuator 220 and the clamp open/close actuator and serves to rotate the clamps with a document D therebetween about its pitch axis x. The clamps grasp the document D at the front and rear covers of the document D along a longitudinal edge in order to turn the document D about its pitch axis x. In an alternative embodiment, the lifting and rotating is effected by a single drive.

In the variant of the third turning/aligning station 300, a drive 310 between the two clamps serves to open and close the two clamps in a controlled manner. A further linear hydraulic drive 320 carries the first drive 310 with the two clamps and serves to lift the clamps from the conveyor device 20 along the yaw axis y of the document D and to set them down thereon. A rotary actuator 315 is disposed between the linear actuator 320 and the clamp open/close actuator and serves to rotate the clamps with a document D therebetween about its roll axis z. The clamps grasp the document D at the front and rear covers of the document D along a transverse edge (at the foot or head) in order to turn the document D about its roll axis z. In an alternative embodiment, the lifting and rotating is effected by a single drive. The downstream turning/aligning station 200 from FIG 4a , 4b (about the pitch axis x) and the upstream turning/aligning station 300 from FIG 5 (about the roll axis z) correspond to each other except for the dimensions of the clamps.

The variants of the device described above, as well as their design and operating aspects, are only intended to provide a better understanding of the structure, the mode of operation and the properties; they do not limit the disclosure to the exemplary embodiments. The figures are partly schematic, with some of the essential properties and effects being shown significantly enlarged in order to clarify the functions, principles of action, technical configurations and features. Any mode of operation, any principle, any technical configuration and any feature disclosed in the figures or in the text, with all claims, any feature in the text and in the other figures, other modes of operation, principles, technical configurations and features that are contained in this disclosure or result from it, can be combined freely and arbitrarily, so that all conceivable combinations of the procedure described can be assigned. This also includes combinations between all individual statements in the text, that is to say in each section of the description, in the claims and also combinations between different variants in the text, in the claims and in the figures. The claims also do not limit the disclosure and thus the possible combinations of all the features shown among themselves. All disclosed features are also explicitly disclosed here individually and in combination with all other features.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 19606887 A1 [0005]
• EP 2804760 A1 [0006]
• EP 2332864 A1 [0007]
• DE 10219569 A1 [0008]
• EP 3147243 A1 [0009]
• US 2010/0090395 A1 [0010]
• WO 2011/035114 A1 [0010]
• WO 2018007017 A1 [0010]
• US4155440B1 [0010]

Claims (13)

A document inverting/aligning apparatus (10) comprises first - upstream - and second - downstream - inverting/aligning stations (100; 200; 300); whereby - the two turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) are arranged along a conveyor device (20), the conveyor device (20) being set up to convey the document (D) to the two turning/aligning stations (100 ; 200; 300) to be fed in succession; and where - the two turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) are set up to transfer the document (D) (i) in the first or the second of the turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) about its yaw axis (y) and/or in the second or the first of the turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) about its roll axis (z); or (ii) in the first or the second of the turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) about its roll axis (z) and/or in the second or the first of the turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) about its pitch axis (x); or (iii) in the first or the second of the turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) about its pitch axis (x) and/or in the second or the first of the turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) to turn around its yaw axis (y). The document turning / aligning device (10) after claim 1 , in which (a) one of the two turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) is set up to lift the document (D) (i) off the conveyor device (20), (ii) about its yaw axis ( y) turning, and (iii) depositing on the conveyor (20); and the other of the two turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) is set up to (i) lift the document (D) off the conveyor (20), (ii) turn it about its roll axis (z), and (iii) depositing onto the conveyor (20); or (b) one of the two turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) is set up to lift the document (D) (i) off the conveyor (20), (ii) about its pitch axis (x) to turn, and (iii) to deposit on the conveyor (20); and the other of the two turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) is set up to (i) lift the document (D) off the conveyor (20), (ii) turn it about its roll axis (z), and (iii) depositing onto the conveyor (20); or (c) one of the two turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) is set up to lift the document (D) (i) off the conveyor (20), (ii) about its yaw axis (y) to turn, and (iii) to deposit on the conveyor (20); and the other of the two turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) is set up to (i) lift the document (D) off the conveyor (20), (ii) turn it about its pitch axis (x), and (iii) depositing onto the conveyor (20). The document turning / aligning device (10) after claim 1 , or 2, wherein the conveyor device (20) - comprises at least one conveyor belt (22, 22a) which is single-part or multi-part, cyclically or continuously driven in a conveying direction (F) and/or transversely to the conveying direction (F) and which has a plurality of its surface webs (24) that protrude and are spaced apart in the conveying direction (F), adjacent webs (24) being spaced far enough from one another that such a document (D) can slide between two adjacent webs (24) in the conveying direction (F) along its rolling axis ( z) or its pitch axis (x) essentially free of play. The document turning / aligning device (10) after claim 3 , wherein the conveying device (20) - comprises lateral guides on one or both sides of the conveyor belt (22, 22a), which are set up to rotate or slide movements of the document (D) around its yaw axis (y) and/or along limit its roll axis (z) and/or pitch axis (x); and wherein optionally - the lateral guides, at least in sections, comprise rigid guide surfaces or driven or non-driven roller conveyors with or without side conveyor belts, and/or - the conveyor belt (22, 22a, 22b) is set up to rotate or slide movements of the document (D) to limit its pitch (z) and/or roll (z) axis and/or along its pitch (z) and/or roll (z) axis and/or along its yaw (y) axis. The document inverting/aligning apparatus (10) of any preceding claim, wherein - at least one of the inverting/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) includes first and second clamps (102, 104; 202, 204 ; 302, 304); and/or - at least one of the two clamps (102, 104; 202, 204; 302, 304), controlled by a first hydraulic, pneumatic, motor, link-guided and/or spring-loaded drive, controls the other of the two clamps (102, 104 ; 202, 204; 302, 304) is movable towards and away from it; and/or - the two clamps (102, 104; 202, 204; 302, 304) are dimensioned and adapted to hold such a document (D) at its front to pinch blanket and his back blanket between him; and/or - the two clamps (102, 104; 202, 204; 302, 304) controlled by a fourth hydraulic, pneumatic, motor, gate-guided and/or spring-loaded drive of the conveying device (20) along the yaw axis (y) of the between the two clamps (102, 104; 202, 204; 302, 304) located document (D) are to be lifted and placed on it. The document turning/aligning device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein - at least one of the two clamps (102, 104; 202, 204; 302, 304) non-rotatable, rotatable, or drivable in rotation about the yaw axis (y) of one between the two clamps (102, 104; 202, 204; 302, 304) located document (D), and the other of the two clamps (102, 104; 202, 204; 302, 304) by a second hydraulic, pneumatic, motor, link-guided and/or spring-loaded drive about the yaw axis (y) of the document (D) located between the two clamps (102, 104; 202, 204; 302, 304) is designed such that it can be driven in rotation. The document turning/aligning device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein - at least one of the two clamps (102, 104; 202, 204; 302, 304) non-rotatably, rotatably or rotationally drivable about the pitch axis (x) or the roll axis (z) of one between the two clamps (102, 104; 202, 204 ) located document (D) is designed. The document turning/aligning device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveyor (20) - comprises at least one first conveyor belt oriented in a first conveying direction (F1), which has a plurality of webs (24) protruding from its surface and spaced apart in the conveying direction (F), wherein adjacent webs (24) are spaced apart so far that between each such a document (D) can be accommodated essentially without play along its pitch axis (x) on two webs (24) adjacent in the first conveying direction (F); and - comprises at least one second conveyor belt, which is oriented at an angle to the first conveying direction (F1) and is oriented in a second conveying direction (F2), which has a plurality of webs (24) protruding from its surface and spaced apart in the conveying direction (F), wherein adjacent webs ( 24) are spaced so far apart that such a document (D) can be accommodated essentially without play along its rolling axis (z) between two adjacent webs (24) in the first conveying direction (F1); whereby - the first conveyor belt has a first end, and the second conveyor belt has a second beginning, the first end and the second beginning being aligned and spaced apart such that a document (D) that is on the first conveyor belt and with its pitch axis (x) is oriented along the first conveying direction (F1), is to be transferred onto the second conveyor belt in such a way that the document (D) on the second conveyor belt is oriented with its roll axis (z) along the first conveying direction (F1). The document turning / aligning device (10) after claim 8 , wherein - one of the two turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) is arranged along the first conveyor belt and is set up to turn the document (D) about its rolling axis (z); and - one of the two turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) is arranged along the second conveyor belt and is set up to turn the document (D) about its pitch axis (x). The document turning / aligning device (10) after claim 8 , wherein - one of the two turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) is arranged along the first conveyor belt and is set up to turn the document (D) about its rolling axis (z); and - along the second conveyor belt, one of the two turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) is arranged and arranged to turn the document (D) about its yaw axis (y). The document turning / alignment device (10) according to one of Claims 1 until 8th , wherein the conveyor device (20) - comprises at least one conveyor belt oriented in the conveying direction (F) and having a plurality of webs (24) protruding from its surface and spaced apart in the conveying direction (F), with adjacent webs (24) being spaced far apart from one another that such a document (D) can be accommodated essentially without play along its rolling axis (z) between two webs (24) that are adjacent in the conveying direction (F); and - the first of the two turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) is arranged along the conveyor belt and is arranged to turn the document (D) about its yaw axis (y); and - the second of the two turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) is arranged along the conveyor belt and is set up to turn the document (D) about its pitch axis (x). A document turning/aligning method comprises the steps of: conveying a document (D) first to a first and then to a second turning/aligning station (100; 200; 300) along a conveyor (20) are arranged; (i) turning the document (D) about its yaw axis (y) in the first or the second of the turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) and/or in the second or the first of the turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) about its roll axis (z); or (ii) inverting the document (D) in the first or the second of the inverting/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) about its roll axis (z) and/or in the second or the first of the inverting/aligning - stations (100; 200; 300) about its pitch axis (x); or (iii) inverting the document (D) in the first or the second of the inverting/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) about its pitch axis (x) and/or in the second or the first of the inverting/aligning -Stations (100; 200; 300) around its yaw axis (y). The document turning/alignment process claim 12 , in which (a) one of the two turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) lifts the document (D) (i) off the conveyor (20), (ii) turns it around its yaw axis (y), and (iii) depositing on the conveyor (20); and the other of the two turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) (i) lifts the document (D) off the conveyor (20), (ii) turns it about its roll axis (z), and (iii) up the conveyor (20) deposits; or (b) one of the two turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) lifts the document (D) (i) off the conveyor (20), (ii) turns it about its pitch axis (z), and ( iii) depositing on the conveyor (20); and the other of the two turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) (i) lifts the document (D) off the conveyor (20), (ii) turns it about its roll axis (x), and (iii) up the conveyor (20) deposits; or (c) one of the two turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) lifts the document (D) (i) off the conveyor (20), (ii) turns it about its yaw axis (y), and ( iii) depositing on the conveyor (20); and the other of the two turning/aligning stations (100; 200; 300) (i) lifts the document (D) off the conveyor (20), (ii) turns it about its pitch axis (z), and (iii) up the conveyor (20) settles.

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