Method and apparatus for opening printed products which have been folded off-center

A method for opening asymmetrically folded printed products, comprising the steps of:

• gripping each printed product of the asymmetrically folded printed products at a folded edge thereof;
• each said printed product possessing a first portion comprising a leading marginal lap and an open edge located opposite said folded edge;
• conveying the asymmetrically folded printed products in a direction transverse to said folded edges and with said open edges leading;
• momentarily holding said first portion containing said open edge of each said printed product during conveyance of each said printed product at the region of said open edge for separating said first portion from a second portion of each said printed product;
• and
• displacing said momentarily held region of said first portion of each said printed product away from said second portion for thus opening each said printed product.

An apparatus for opening asymmetrically folded printed products comprising:

• at least one feeder;
• each printed product of the asymmetrically folded printed products possessing a leading marginal lap and an open edge thereof located opposite a folded edge thereof;
• said feeder comprising gripper elements arranged in mutual spaced relationship for gripping each said printed product at said folded edge thereof;
• an opening device positioned below said at least one feeder;
• holding members;
• means for circulatingly driving said holding members in a path of movement;
• means for controlling said holding members for momentarily holding a first portion of each said printed product in the region of said open edge thereof;
• said at least one feeder being arranged for conveying the asymmetrically folded printed products into the region of said opening device with said open edge of each said printed product leading;
• and
• said path of movement of said holding members being configured such that the held region of said first portion of each said printed product is displaceable away from a second portion of each said printed product.

A collating installation for collating asymmetrically folded printed products possessing at least two opening apparatuses arranged in succession in a direction of conveyance, comprising:

• at least one collating conveyor capable of being inserted between initially separated uppermost and lowermost portions of the asymmetrically folded printed products;
• each opening apparatus of the at least two opening apparatuses having at least one feeder comprising gripper elements for gripping each said printed product at a folded edge thereof;
• each opening apparatus further comprising an opening device positioned below each said at least one feeder;
• circulatingly driven holding members provided for the opening device and means for controlling said holding members for momentarily holding a first portion of open edges of the asymmetrically folded printed products;
• means for opening said gripper elements such that the asymmetrically folded printed products are released and come to rest in a straddling manner on said at least one collating conveyor;
• and
• means for transporting the asymmetrically folded printed products away from said at least two opening apparatuses in a direction extending substantially parallel to folded edges of the asymmetrically printed products.