Device and method for the contactless personalization of chips that are integrated into passports

1. A device for the contactless personalization of chips integrated into passports within a system for processing, sorting and packaging a large number of passports comprising a straight main transport path with a first transport direction for transporting the passports one behind the other through the system comprising a plurality of system modules for one or more of processing, sorting and packaging, characterized by;

a respective straight first auxiliary transport path connected to the main transport path and arranged on either side thereof for leading the passports away from the main transport path in a second transport direction running perpendicular to the first transport direction, and

a plurality of coding stations arranged along the two first auxiliary transport paths and next to one another with respect to the first transport direction for coding the chips of the passports, and an equal plurality of transport elements which are respectively assigned to the coding stations and can be displaced in the first transport direction for picking up the passports from the first auxiliary transport paths, positioning them above the associated coding stations and then depositing them on second auxiliary transport paths running back towards the main transport path with a third transport direction running parallel to the second transport direction.

2. The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the displaceable transport elements can be stationed in a starting position on a side of the first auxiliary transport paths remote from the coding stations.

3. The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the transport elements are designed as first pushers for pushing the passports assigned to them from the first auxiliary transport path over the coding stations to the second auxiliary transport path in a transport direction running parallel to the first transport direction.

4. The device according to claim 1 , characterized by two second pushers assigned to the first auxiliary transport path for pushing the passports arranged on the main transport path onto the respective first auxiliary transport path located opposite the second pusher with respect to the main transport path.

5. A method for the contactless personalization of chips integrated into passports within a system for processing, sorting and packaging a large number of passports, wherein the passports are transported through the system one behind the other from system module to system module on a straight main transport path with a first transport direction, characterized by;

in that the passports in a station for personalizing the chips on both sides of the main transport path are diverted onto a respective straight first auxiliary transport path with a second transport direction running perpendicular to the first transport direction, in order to be positioned in front of a plurality of coding stations arranged along the two first auxiliary transport paths and next to one another with respect to the first transport direction,

in that, depending on whether the respective coding station is unoccupied, the positioned passports are displaced individually in a first transport direction by means of transport elements assigned to the coding stations from the first auxiliary transport paths to the coding stations and then, after coding has taken place, to second auxiliary transport paths, and

in that the second auxiliary transport paths pass the passports back to the main transport path with a third transport direction running parallel to the second transport direction.

6. The method according to claim 5 , characterized in that the transport elements are stationed in a starting position on a side of the first auxiliary transport paths remote from the coding stations.

7. The method according to claim 5 , characterized in that an individual passport is displaced from the main transport path towards an unoccupied coding station on one of the first auxiliary transport paths by means of a pusher.

8. The method according to claim 5 , characterized in that the chips of the passports are pre-personalized and personalized and optionally preliminarily initialized in the coding stations.

9. The method according to claim 5 , characterized in that each passport is precisely positioned in the system module for personalization perpendicular to the first transport direction and then above the coding station parallel to the first transport direction.