Method and system for personalizing a multiplicity of security documents using a plurality of processing stations

1. A method for personalizing a plurality of security documents, said documents being redeemable for monetary value, or smart cards within a personalization installation which comprises a plurality of discrete processing stations arranged one behind the other along a longitudinal axis of the personalization installation for carrying out at least two individual personalization steps on the documents or smart cards, the method comprising:

running one of the documents or smart cards through a first discrete processing station for performing a first personalization step in a first direction running transversely to the longitudinal axis; and

running each of the documents or smart cards through one of second and third discrete processing stations for performing a second personalization step in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction and running transversely to the longitudinal axis,

wherein all the processing stations are oriented with their run-through directions transverse to the longitudinal axis,

wherein the documents or smart cards run through the discrete processing stations arranged one behind the other that are to be run through by said documents alternately in the first and second directions, and

depositing each document or smart card on an input tray element in an input area of a discrete processing station and on an output tray element in an output area of a discrete processing station, wherein the input tray element and the output tray element are located outside a processing area of the discrete processing station.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising transporting the documents or smart cards from the output area of the first discrete processing station to the input area of the second and third discrete processing stations by means of transport elements which can move in the longitudinal axis direction of the personalization installation.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the discrete processing stations that are to be run through by the documents or smart cards are pre-selected by means of a control unit, and the transport elements move to the selected discrete processing stations in a predefined order in order to input or output the documents or smart cards into or from the discrete processing stations.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein one document or smart card is deposited on the input tray element and on the output tray element while a further document or smart card is being processed in the processing area of the discrete processing station.

5. A personalization installation system for personalizing a plurality of security documents, documents being redeemable for monetary value or smart cards, comprising:

a plurality of discrete processing stations arranged one behind the other along a longitudinal axis of the personalization installation, wherein the plurality of discrete processing stations include:

a first discrete processing station configured to carry out a first individual personalization step on the documents or smart cards and having a run-through direction in a first direction transverse to the longitudinal axis; and

second and third discrete processing stations configured to carry out a second individual personalization step on the documents or smart cards and having a run-through direction for the documents or smart cards in a second direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, wherein the documents or smart cards are run through one of the second and third discrete processing stations,

wherein the documents or smart cards run through the discrete processing stations arranged one behind the other that are to be run through by said documents alternately in the first and second directions, and

wherein first ends of the discrete processing stations are connected by at least one first transport element which can move parallel to the longitudinal axis and second ends of the discrete processing stations are connected by at least one second transport element which can move parallel to the longitudinal axis, and

wherein the first and second ends comprise input and output areas of the discrete processing stations, in which input and output tray elements for depositing the documents or smart cards are arranged outside an intermediate processing area of the discrete processing stations.

6. The personalization installation according to claim 5 , wherein the movable transport element is a displaceable tray element.