Function-wise control of an apparatus for processing physical documents

An apparatus for processing physical documents, comprising:

• a reconfigurable arrangement of at least two removable processing stations, each arranged for performing at least one processing step with a physical document, wherein at least one single station has at least two physical document processing functions;
• and
• a central control unit which is arranged for determining and outputting function control data,
• wherein each station comprises a station control unit connected to the central control unit for receiving the function control data and controlling functions of that station on the basis of the function control data,
• wherein the station control unit of said at least one single station having at least two physical document processing functions comprises a function control unit and processing control units each for controlling an associated part of the station performing one of the functions,
• wherein the function control unit is arranged and connected to the processing control units for driving the processing control units on the basis of the function control data, and for controlling the parts of the station each belonging to a separate function for performing the respective function of the respective processing step, and
• wherein at least one of the station control units forms a cluster control unit, which is arranged for controlling the station control units of a cluster of stations and which cluster control unit comprises a memory in which data is stored which represents a cluster topology.

A method for controlling processing of physical documents, comprising:

• sending, by a central control unit, function control data to station control units, each arranged for controlling at least one station in a reconfigurable arrangement of at least two removable processing stations, which stations perform at least one processing step with a physical document, wherein at least one single station has at least two physical document processing functions;
• receiving function control data in the station control units receiving function control data;
• and
• driving, by a function control unit of the station control unit of the at least one single station having at least two physical document processing functions, at least two processing control units of that station control unit on the basis of the function control data, the at least two processing control units each controlling an associated part of the at least one single station having at least two processing functions performing one of the at least two functions.