Processing of sheets of printed security papers into bundles and packets

An installation for processing piles each formed of a constant number of sheets each printed with N numbered security papers such as banknotes, in which the numbering of the security papers at like positions of the successive sheets of each pile and of the successive piles is in an uninterrupted sequence, into bundles of security papers each having said constant number of security papers in sequential order and arranged in packets of sequentially numbered bundles, comprising:

• means for receiving a pile of sheets and cutting the pile into N bundles of security papers;
• means for conveying the bundles of each successively cut pile in a given order along a first path;
• a bundle collecting device comprising two rotary drums each having N individual magazines arranged at its periphery;
• a distribution head at the end of said first path for alternately delivering bundles to fill one drum and then the other drum;
• means for driving the drum being filled in synchronism with the delivery of bundles along said first path to receive at the end of said first path successive ones of the N bundles formed from each pile in successive magazines to form N packets of a given number of bundles from a given number of piles;
• means for successively discharging said packets of bundles from said magazines of each of said drums while said magazines of the other of said drums are being filled, and
• means for conveying the successive packets of bundles discharged from the filled drum of said collecting device along a second path to a packet wrapping device.