Patent ID: 7297930

Claim:
A device for measuring the width L of a mail item on the fly in a mail handling machine in which mail items are caused to move parallel to a reference wall; said device comprising: a detector device rendered active when the presence of a mail item passing over a plurality of levers is detected, said levers being disposed at a determined set pitch perpendicularly to said reference wall; an emitter device for emitting a light ray, which emitter device is disposed facing a first lever of said plurality; a receiver device for receiving said light ray; a measurement device for measuring the light intensity of the light ray received at said receiver device; and a processor device for computing a determined number y of levers activated by said mail item going past, on the basis of a comparison between said measurement of the received light intensity and an initial measurement of the light intensity of the light ray received at said receiver device when no mail items pass over said plurality of levers.