Patent ID: 6050054
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A mail item feed device adapted to be mounted on the upstream side of a franking machine and comprising in succession along a mail item transparent path:a mail item feed area for receiving a stack of mail items;a mail item selection and transport area including a selector and transport module for separating the mail items one by one from the stack; anda mail item closing area including a closing module for closing said mail items, wherein said selector and transport module includes:independent selector means including selector rollers cooperating with corresponding rollers in the selection and transport area for separating the mail items one by one from the feed area,transport means including at least one set of transport rollers cooperating with conveyor means in the selection and transport area to transport the mail items separated in this way towards the closing area, andmanual release means for raising said selector rollers if the mail items have a thickness greater than a predetermined thickness wherein the selector rollers and the transport rollers are fastened together by an articulated assembly which includes a plate that can pivot like a swing about a rotation shaft mounted between two longitudinal walls disposed on respective opposite sides of the transport path one of the two ends of this plate carrying a first support shaft coupled to the selector rollers and its other end carrying a second support shaft coupled to the transport rollers.