Abstract: A method of using reflection of a laser ray (LZ) for measuring the thickness (e) of a flat mail item (1) consists in nipping the mail item by means of an elastically deformable member (3) that has a first surface (4a) in contact with one face of said mail item, and a reflective second surface (4b) substantially parallel to said first surface, and in directing the laser ray onto said reflective second surface (4b) for the purpose of measuring the thickness of the mail item.

Abstract: A method of using reflection of a laser ray (LZ) for measuring the thickness (e) of a flat mail item (1) consists in nipping the mail item by means of an elastically deformable member (3) that has a first surface (4a) in contact with one face of said mail item, and a reflective second surface (4b) substantially parallel to said first surface, and in directing the laser ray onto said reflective second surface (4b) for the purpose of measuring the thickness of the mail item.

Abstract: The present invents relates to a sorting installation for articles having different destinations, especially letters. The installation comprises n sorting machines connected to a common conveyor. Each machine comprises pigeonholes associated with p.sub.i of the N possible destinations. The articles introduced at the input of the machine and not corresponding to one of the p.sub.i destinations are directed towards the storage regions, each region corresponding to the destinations associated with the other n-1 sorting machines to which the articles are periodically transferred.