BLATTSORTIERVORRICHTUNG

A bundle of sheets is supplied from a sheet supply device (100) to a sheet transfer device (200), which then transfers sheets one by one to a sheet inspection device (300). The sheet inspection device (300) makes optical, magnetic, and mechanical inspections of the sheet transferred thereto to identify valid sheets, soiled sheets, first unidentifiable sheets, or second unidentifiable sheets in accordance with the results of the inspections. Counters count the valid sheets, soiled sheets, and first unidentifiable sheets, and the sum total of these counted sheets is compared with a set value. If the sum total of the sheets agrees with the set value, a subsequent bundle of sheets is automatically supplied from the supply device (100) to the sheet transfer device (200). The number of second unidentifiable sheets (eg superposed sheets, folded sheet, etc), if any, are detected by the sheet inspection device (300) and are counted manually, and the count number obtained is added to the sum of the numbers of the valid and soiled sheets. Then, the value obtained by such addition is compared with the set value before sorting is recommenced. The sheets can be slips, cheques, securities etc. The arrangement reduces the number of key operators by the machine operator and enables sorting to be performed continuously if no second unidentifiable sheet types are counted.