# US 4,398,710 A · Method and apparatus for opening folded, bound or stitched multi-sheet products, especially printed products > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,398,710 A - Document ID: US4398710A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/214,460 - Filed: 1980-12-08 - Granted: 1983-08-16 - Earliest claimed: 1980-01-08 - Assignees: Ferag AG - Inventors: Egon Hansch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4398710A ## CPC - B65H 5/30: Opening devices for folded sheets or signatures - B65H 2301/434: In channels, e.g. in which the articles are substantially vertical or inclined - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract An entrainment cam, which is attached to an arm displaceable in its lengthwise direction, is moved toward an open side of a printed product which is to be opened. At the region of one corner of the product the entrainment cam engages a part of the printed product and entrains the seized sheets during further movement thereof. This results in a bowing-out or bulging of the entrained product sheets, so that the part of the printed product which is not engaged by the entrainment cam can be raised. In the thus formed gap there is inserted a holder element which supports the part of the printed product not engaged by the entrainment cam and in this way retains the gap open. Now the entrainment cam is moved back into its rest position where it does not have any effect upon the printed product. The latter then is forwardly advanced, in a direction essentially parallel to the product fold, towards a separation element which engages into the gap and completely opens the printed product. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of opening folded, bound or stitched, multi-sheet products, especially printed products, each having a folded edge and an opposite open side having a lap margin part, comprising the steps of: moving a pre-separation element relative to the product towards the open side thereof and engaging an edge of the lap margin part of said open side; moving the engaged lap margin edge of the open side relative to and toward said folded edge; continuing the relative movement of the pre-separation element and the lap margin edge engaged thereby so that there occurs a bowing-out of the sheets; inserting a holder element into an opening formed between the bowed-out sheets and remaining sheets of the product not engaged by the pre-separation element; and bringing to bear the sheets of the product not engaged by the pre-separation element against the holder element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, further including the steps of: following the insertion of the holder element rendering ineffectual the action of the pre-separation element at the product. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method as defined in claim 2, further including the steps of: following the insertion of the holder element introducing a stationary separation element into the opening between the sheets in order to completely open the product; and moving the product in a direction extending transversely with respect to the direction of the relative movement between the pre-separation element and the product towards the stationary separation element and after the pre-separation element has been placed into an ineffectual position with respect to the product. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, further including the steps of: placing the product with a flat side thereof so as to bear upon a support. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, further including the steps of: moving the holder element essentially parallel to a direction of movement of the pre-separation element and the product. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, further including the steps of: following the insertion of the holder element introducing a separation element into the opening between the sheets in order to completely open the product. ### Claim 7 An apparatus for opening folded, bound or stitched, multi-sheet products, especially printed products, each having a folded edge and an opposite open side having a lap margin part, comprising: a pre-separation element for acting upon the lap margin part of the open side of the sheets of the product for displacing such lap margin part of the open side of the sheets in relation to remaining sheets of the products which are not engaged by the pre-separation element; means for moving the pre-separation element relative to the product towards the open side thereof and for engaging and moving an edge of the lap margin part of at least one of the open sides of the sheets relative to and towards the folded edge by said pre-separation element; said engaged lap margin part of the open side of the sheets being bowed out at the lap margin part where such sheets are engaged by the pre-separation element during continued relative movement between the pre-separation element and the product; a holder element introduceable into an opening between the bowed-out sheets and the remaining sheets of the product not engaged by the pre-separation element; and said sheets which are not engaged by the pre-separation element coming to bear upon said holder element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 8) The apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein: said pre-separation element is movable following the insertion of the holder element into a position where it no longer exerts the bowing-out action upon the product. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus as defined in claim 8, further including: a stationary element for the complete opening of the product; said separation element being introduceable into the opening between the sheets following the insertion of the holder element; and the product being movable in a direction extending transversely with respect to the direction of relative movement between the pre-separation element and the product towards the stationary separation element after the pre-separation element has been brought into an ineffectual position with respect to the product. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The apparatus as defined in claim 7, further including: support means for the product; the product bearing at a flat side thereof upon said support means; and said pre-separation element being effectual at the lap margin part of the sheets of the product at the side of the support means. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein: said pre-separation element comprises an entrainment member secured to an arm; said entrainment member acts upon the lap margin part of the sheets of the product; said arm protrudes past said entrainment member; and said arm is inclined at an acute angle with respect to said support means for the product. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein: the holder element is moved in a direction essentially parallel to a direction of movement of the pre-separation element and the product. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The apparatus as defined in claim 8, further including: a separation element for the complete opening of the product; and said separation element being introduceable into the opening between the sheets following insertion of the holder element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein: said pre-separation element comprises an entrainment member secured to an arm; and said entrainment member acts upon the lap margin part of the sheets of the product. ### Claim 15 (depends on 15) The apparatus as defined in claim 15, further including: control means for controlling the movement of the pre-separation element; and said arm bearing under spring force at said control means. ### Claim 16 (depends on 16) The apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein: said control means comprises control cam means for controlling said movement of the pre-separation element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein: said arm is constituted by a free end of a bending spring element which is clamped at one side; and said bending spring element contacts said control means. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The apparatus as defined in claim 15, further including: additional control means for controlling the movement of the holder element; and said holder element having an elongated configuration and bearing under spring force at said additional control means. ### Claim 19 (depends on 19) The apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein: said additional control means comprises an additional control cam means for controlling said movement of said holder element. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein: the holder element is formed by the free end of a bending spring element which is clamped at one end; and said bending spring element is in contact with said additional control means. ### Claim 21 (depends on 8) The apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein: direction of movement of the holder element is inclined with respect to a flat side of the product. ### Claim 22 An apparatus for processing folded, bound or stitched, multi-sheet products, each having a folded edge and an opposite open side having a lap margin part, comprising: a cell wheel rotatable about an axis of rotation; said cell wheel being provided with radially extending compartments for receiving the printed products and in which the printed products are movable in the direction of the axis of rotation of the cell wheel; each of said individual compartments being provided at least at an input portion thereof with a device for opening the printed products; each said opening device comprising: a pre-separation element acting upon the lap margin part of the open side of the sheets of the product for displacing such lap margin part of the open side of the sheets in relation to the remaining sheets of the product which are not engaged by said pre-separation element; means for moving the pre-separation element relative to the product towards the open side thereof and for engaging and moving an edge of the lap margin part of the open side of the sheets relative to and towards the folded edge by said pre-separation element; said engaged lap margin part of the open side of the sheets being domed-out at the lap margin part where such sheets are engaged by the pre-separation element during continued relative movement between the pre-separation element and the product; a holder element introduceable into an opening between the doomed-out sheets and the remaining sheets which are not engaged by the pre-separation element; and said sheets which are not engaged by the pre-separation element coming to bear upon said holder element.