Patent ID: 7151608

Claim:
A method of using reflection of a laser ray (LZ, LZ′, LZ″) for measuring the thickness (e) of a flat mail item ( 1 ) moving through a sorting machine, said method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: nipping the mail item by means of an elastically deformable member ( 3 ; 3 ′, 10 ) that is movably mounted and that moves with the movement of the mail item, said member having a first surface ( 4 a , 4 a ′) in contact with one face of said mail item, and a reflective second surface ( 4 b ; 4 b ′; 14 ) substantially parallel to said first surface; and directing the laser ray onto said reflective second surface ( 4 b , 4 b ′, 14 ) for the purpose of measuring the thickness of the mail item.