A feed apparatus for isolating and feeding spirals (3) or the like to a binding apparatus has an isolating roll (12) comprising depressions (19), which are distributed over the circumferential surface (11) thereof and are parallel to the axis, for receiving in each case a spiral (3), which circumferential surface (11) is moved under a scraper (20) which comprises a chain (25) which is moved in the opposite direction over two rollers (21, 22) arranged vertically one on top of the other and which carries outward-projecting scraping fingers (27) which are in the form of bundles of resilient bristles. From the circumferential surface (11), the spirals (3) pass via a baffle plate (40) onto a conveyor (30) having drivers (37) which transport them to a slot (43), where they are delivered to the binding apparatus. If no spiral (3) was picked up by the depression (19) of the isolating roll (12) and further transported to the conveyor (30), the baffle plate (40) is advanced in the conveying direction for avoiding a failure.