Apparatus for placing folded signatures on a transport device

An apparatus for placing folded signatures having edges on a transport device, comprising

• a rotating extracting cylinder (A) suitable of griping signatures (1) individually from a stack (2) and transferring the signatures to a first rotating opening cylinder (B);
• a second rotating opening cylinder (C) for opening the gripped signatures (1) at the edges (4, 5) opposite from the fold (3) and dropping the signatures on the transport device (6),
• a clamp (48) disposed on the first rotating opening cylinder (B) for gripping the signatures (1) for opening and transport at one of the respective projecting edges (5), and
• means for gripping the edges (4, 5) in the extracting cylinder (A) from behind and transfer the edges to the clamp (48), wherein
• said means for gripping the edges (4,5) include at least one guide arm (7) which is movably supported on the first opening cylinder, and wherein the movement of the guide arm 7 is in response to a rotation of the first opening cylinder, and extends from a retracted position into a position projecting over the circumference of the first opening cylinder so that the gripping the edges is accomplished from behind the signatures.