FIELD: transportation, packaging and storage of goods or materials.
SUBSTANCE: sheet numbering process is provided, comprising feeding of individual sheets (S) in succession, which individual sheets (S) each carry a plurality of imprints (P) that are arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, and providing unique serial numbers to multiple ones of said plurality of imprints (P) carried by individual sheets (S). Sheet numbering process comprises numbering of at least some of individual sheets (S), wherein numbering of individual sheets (S) is selectively commutable between first numbering scheme (N1) and at least second numbering scheme (N2; N2'; N*), different from first numbering scheme (N1), without interruption of the numbering process. First numbering scheme (N1) involves providing all imprints (P) of first subset (S0) of individual sheets (S) with unique serial number (SN1) of first numbering scheme (N1). Second numbering scheme (N2; N2'; N*) involves providing all or part of imprints (P) of second subset (S'; S*) of individual sheets (S) with unique serial number (SN2; SN2'; SN*) of second numbering scheme (N2; N2'; N*). First subset (S0) of individual sheets (S) and second subset (S'; S*) of individual sheets are sorted after numbering depending on numbering scheme (N1; N2; N2'; N*).
EFFECT: also described is a sheet-processing machine for carrying out the aforementioned sheet numbering process.
22 cl, 10 tbl, 10 dwg
