Abstract: A mail item feed device adapted to be mounted on the upstream side of a franking machine and including in succession along a mail item transport path, a first or mail item feed area for receiving a stack of mail items, a second or mail item selection and transport area including a selector and transport module for separating the items one by one from the stack, and possibly a third or mail item closing area including a closing module for closing the mail items, the selector and transport module including independent selector means including selector rollers for separating the mail items one by one from the feed area and transport means including at least one set of transport rollers co-operating with the conveyor means in the selection and transport area to transport the mail items separated in this way towards an area farther downstream, and manual release means additionally being provided for raising the selector rollers if the mail items have a thickness greater than a predetermined thickness.

Abstract: A mail item feed device having a first or mail item feed area, a second or selector area and a third or conveyor area and including a first plurality of sensors for identifying the various formats of the mail items present in said first area, a second plurality of sensors for detecting the passage of the mail items in said second and third areas, and a plurality of drive means for co-operating with the transport rollers of the first, second and third areas and actuated selectively in a predetermined sequence defined by control means in accordance with the state of each of the first and second plurality of sensors.

Abstract: The feed device includes a platform (9) adapted to receive at least one mail item (4; 4A, 4B) laid flat on it and a plurality of rollers (10) each having a flat (10B). Said rollers are mounted to rotate under the platform to occupy alternately a first position in which they remain below the platform and a second position in which they project above the platform. A weight sensor (30) is mounted under the platform to carry it, said sensor being responsive to vertical displacement of the platform to deliver a signal (C) indicative of the load applied to it when the rollers are all substantially in said first position.