A method of orienting a sheet in a sheet punching and embossing machine and a sheet punching and embossing machine includes at least one processing station, a machine control system and a sheet transport system including circulating gripper carts with gripper bridges on which grippers are secured. The sheet is gripped and moved through the machine by the grippers. The sheet transport system includes circulating chains. The gripper carts include travel carts which are connected to the sheet transport system, and the gripper carts stop at a respective processing station to process the sheet. The gripper bridge of a gripper cart is connected by spring elements to the travel carts, and the gripper bridge includes a contact surface which can be brought into contact with at least one driven adjustment element of a respective processing station to orient the sheet in the processing station and to lower the gripper bridge into the processing stations.